NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Brad Keselowski seeks the right weekend. Kyle Larson appears to be like to go from the again to the entrance. And 21 different drivers additionally might be vying for $1 million in tonight’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Inexperienced flag for the All-Star Open is ready for five:38 p.m. ET. The winner, runner-up and fan vote winner from that race will advance to the All-Star Race.
Inexperienced flag for the All-Star Race is ready for 8:14 p.m. ET.
Here’s what to observe for in tonight’s race:
Promoter’s Warning
The wrinkle on this 12 months’s race is an promoter’s warning that can be utilized earlier than Lap 220 of the 250-lap race. If the promoter’s warning has not but been used and a pure warning happens after Lap 200, the promoter’s warning will not be in play.
Brad Keselowski will lead the sector to the inexperienced flag within the exhibition race that pays $1 million to the winner.
Groups already know there might be a contest warning round Lap 100. How the promoter’s warning is utilized by Marcus Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports, might make a huge impact on the race as Christopher Bell explains:
“It should in all probability be within the play after which will probably be determination time of what you assume your finest alternative to win the race is. Plenty of instances that decision is dependent upon what different guys do as nicely. Should you keep out and you’ve got 5 or 6 guys keep out with you, then it’s the successful name to remain out.
“However identical to the second warmth race (Saturday), if you happen to keep out and no one stays out with you, it was a shedding name.”
Can a crew’s season turnaround tonight?
Brad Keselowski begins on the pole for tonight’s race and a victory — whereas it wouldn’t rely towards playoff eligibility — could be important for his crew.
Keselowski has by no means gained this race — he’s completed second 3 times, which is tied for probably the most within the occasion with out successful it. This season has been dreadful. Keselowski has completed twenty sixth or worse in 9 of the primary 12 factors races.
Warmth races set the lineup for Sunday’s All-Star Race.
“I believe the crew is a reasonably resilient group,” Keselowski mentioned after successful the pole. “I don’t care who you’re as a crew, all of us want some constructive reinforcement and encouragement.”
He additionally gained his warmth race Saturday. A victory tonight would full an ideal weekend for the RFK Racing crew.
Regulate the again of the sector
Kyle Larson will begin final on the 23-car discipline as a result of he had Justin Allgaier qualify his automobile whereas Larson was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Larson’s crew elected to not compete in Saturday’s warmth race because it wouldn’t matter the place the automobile completed as a result of the automobile would within the rear for the All-Star Race because of the driver change.
With Kyle Larson at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Justin Allgaier drove Larson’s No. 5 in apply and qualifying Friday.
Larson might be one to observe.
“I felt like long-run tempo, we had been actually good,” Allgaier, the reigning Xfinity Sequence champion, advised NBC Sports activities. “After I take a look at lap 30 or 40 (on a run), our tempo was proper the place we wanted it to be.”
Larson needed to begin on the rear of the sector in final 12 months’s race as a result of he additionally was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Larson went on to complete fourth in final 12 months’s All-Star Race.
Larson has three All-Star wins, one wanting the report held by Jimmie Johnson.
